weisan
01-16-2015, 09:05 AM
A couple of weeks ago, Exonerv pal tipped us off about a Merlin titanium cyclocross on Seattle craigslist. (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=161508)
It's been a while since I own a cross bike, used to have a Redline Conquest but sold it and the last time I had a titanium bike in my stable was back 6 or 7 years ago when I gave up the Seortta Legend Ti. Plus I have the intentions of doing some loaded touring in the near future, so, naturally I was very excited to see this bike up for sale as it seems to fit the bill perfectly. I remembered the first time I saw a Merlin in the bike shop maybe 10 or 15 years ago, I was so captivated by its satin finish and the impeccable welds, and then I did what every shoppers do, I flipped the price tag and it was like "Whoa! This is waaaaaay out of my league." :)
Fast forward to present.
So, Exonerv pal posted a link to the ad, I responded by asking for help with any locals who might be able to facilitate the sale. There's where KidWok pal comes into the picture. Tai pal kindly volunteered himself. And the rest is history as they say....nah, I wrote a little "thank you" note on the Classified section. But I thought this deserves a bigger exposure, so I am cutting and pasting it over here. What Tai pal did for me is incredible. Thank you my friend.
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Just got word from kid pal yesterday that the bike is making its way from Seattle to Texas!
Can't say enough of just how much I am grateful and in awe of what tai pal did on my behalf... volunteered himself to go check out the bike, contacted the seller, scheduled a time, drove to his place, did a thorough inspection on the spot down to how much life is left on the chain (75%! ), called me immediately to report on his findings, used his own money to pay for it up front, loaded it up in his car, brought it home, took up limited living space, went out and found a box, took the bike apart and packed it very nicely with foams and the necessary protection, found the most economical and secured way to ship with tracking number, basically treated it like his own from start to finish -- and get this! Only when the bike get shipped out, did he gave me the final amount of which I paid immediately through PayPal.
Everything he did, he did it out of his own volition, at his own time and resources - Tai and i have never met in person, i may well be a total stranger to him but yet he reached out to me and rendered help unconditionally.
What do y'all call this?
Brotherly love, friendship, human kindness, generosity, community spirit.
Priceless!
Thank you Tai pal, you have set a very high bar, i hope when the time comes, I would do the same for you or any of my pals here.
This bike will have a special meaning to it and a neat story to tell.
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Pictures of the cross bike taken by the seller.
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893500&stc=1&d=1421167291
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893501&stc=1&d=1421167302
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893502&stc=1&d=1421167317
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893503&stc=1&d=1421167330
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893504&stc=1&d=1421167342
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893505&stc=1&d=1421167353
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893507&stc=1&d=1421167378http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893506&stc=1&d=1421167369
It's been a while since I own a cross bike, used to have a Redline Conquest but sold it and the last time I had a titanium bike in my stable was back 6 or 7 years ago when I gave up the Seortta Legend Ti. Plus I have the intentions of doing some loaded touring in the near future, so, naturally I was very excited to see this bike up for sale as it seems to fit the bill perfectly. I remembered the first time I saw a Merlin in the bike shop maybe 10 or 15 years ago, I was so captivated by its satin finish and the impeccable welds, and then I did what every shoppers do, I flipped the price tag and it was like "Whoa! This is waaaaaay out of my league." :)
Fast forward to present.
So, Exonerv pal posted a link to the ad, I responded by asking for help with any locals who might be able to facilitate the sale. There's where KidWok pal comes into the picture. Tai pal kindly volunteered himself. And the rest is history as they say....nah, I wrote a little "thank you" note on the Classified section. But I thought this deserves a bigger exposure, so I am cutting and pasting it over here. What Tai pal did for me is incredible. Thank you my friend.
---------------------------------------
Just got word from kid pal yesterday that the bike is making its way from Seattle to Texas!
Can't say enough of just how much I am grateful and in awe of what tai pal did on my behalf... volunteered himself to go check out the bike, contacted the seller, scheduled a time, drove to his place, did a thorough inspection on the spot down to how much life is left on the chain (75%! ), called me immediately to report on his findings, used his own money to pay for it up front, loaded it up in his car, brought it home, took up limited living space, went out and found a box, took the bike apart and packed it very nicely with foams and the necessary protection, found the most economical and secured way to ship with tracking number, basically treated it like his own from start to finish -- and get this! Only when the bike get shipped out, did he gave me the final amount of which I paid immediately through PayPal.
Everything he did, he did it out of his own volition, at his own time and resources - Tai and i have never met in person, i may well be a total stranger to him but yet he reached out to me and rendered help unconditionally.
What do y'all call this?
Brotherly love, friendship, human kindness, generosity, community spirit.
Priceless!
Thank you Tai pal, you have set a very high bar, i hope when the time comes, I would do the same for you or any of my pals here.
This bike will have a special meaning to it and a neat story to tell.
----------------------------------------------
Pictures of the cross bike taken by the seller.
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893500&stc=1&d=1421167291
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893501&stc=1&d=1421167302
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893502&stc=1&d=1421167317
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893503&stc=1&d=1421167330
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893504&stc=1&d=1421167342
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893505&stc=1&d=1421167353
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893507&stc=1&d=1421167378http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697893506&stc=1&d=1421167369